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emar
Hi, could anyone tell me what's the most natural and correct way to name the action of being constantly looking at the phone, checking social media, etc. ? In a nutshell, what teenagers do all the time. I need to use a verb for this " hobby ". Thank you
Dec 27, 2024 7:05 PM
Answers · 11
The most natural and commonly used verb to describe this action is "scrolling" (or "scrolling through" when specifying social media). It captures the motion of moving through feeds on a phone or device.
Examples:
- "Teenagers spend hours scrolling through their phones."
- "She's always scrolling through Instagram and TikTok."
Other possible phrases:
- "Doomscrolling" (when scrolling excessively, often consuming negative content).
- "Browsing" (less specific, but can work for checking apps or websites).
However, "scrolling" is the most direct and natural for casual use!
December 28, 2024
I've heard the term 'deathscrolling' used to describe this action but it usually relates to looking at negative news.
December 28, 2024
The neutral expression is ‘to be always/constantly on one’s phone’. ‘To be addicted to one’s phone’ is negative and suggests that it’s not entirely the fault of the person.
I’m always on my phone, but I’m not ashamed of it. It’s how I interact with the world.
He’s addicted to his phone. He doesn’t know how to behave around people in real life.
December 28, 2024
I would use the term 'phone addiction' if you're talking about someone who's always on their phone. If you mean the actual action, 'doomscrolling' describes endlessly scrolling through social media.
Merry holidays!
December 27, 2024
Thank you very much Luca
December 27, 2024
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emar
Language Skills
English, Spanish
Learning Language
English
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